The long-awaited announcement regarding the impending WWE arrival of New Japan Pro Wrestling superstar Shinsuke Nakamura has finally been made. At the January 27th television tapings, NXT commissioner William Regal revealed that the Japanese icon will make his debut on April 1st at TakeOver: Dallas during WrestleMania weekend. His opponent? None other than Sami Zayn. A video announcing the arrival was played before the audience at Full Sail University in Orlando, Florida and immediately social media lit up with excitement at the prospect of seeing the man many fans call "Swagsuke" mix it up with their favorites in NXT. The three-time IWGP champion is a 14-year veteran of the business, a master of Japanese "strong style" and a huge star in his home country. He's one of four men departing New Japan for WWE - along with Doc Gallows, Karl Anderson and the already-debuted AJ Styles - and will be a welcome addition to NXT and presumably the main roster as well. WWE hasn't always had the most success with handling foreign wrestlers properly and has seen men who should have been sure things get lost in the shuffle. Hopefully Nakamura's tremendous wrestling ability and off the charts charisma will help him avoid those same pitfalls.
Brad Hamilton is a writer, musician and marketer/social media manager from Atlanta, Georgia. He's an undefeated freestyle rap battle champion, spends too little time being productive and defines himself as the literary version of Brock Lesnar.
